Services - Sportsvision

Primary Eye Care is the only eye clinic in Australia with exclusive access to the SVT^TM technology.  

Vision training techniques as defined by Pierre Elmurr, Orthoptist and Sports Scientist at the New South Wales Institute of Sport, Sydney Australia can be divided into 4 categories:  

(a) Classical vision training is based on deficiencies detected during a sports vision eye examination. Orthoptic vision training therapies are proven methods based on scientific principles.   

(b) Visual-motor performance An important component in sports vision testing is the assessment of visual-motor performance. Investigating the processing of visual information and its link to motor output enables sports vision practitioners to test sports specific functions. This includes eye-hand coordination, peripheral awareness reaction time, eye-foot coordination, coincidence anticipation and total reaction time.  

(c) Visual awareness coaching Dr Sherylle Calder, has provided scientific evidence for this form of vision training.  Dr Calder advocates the use of on field sports specific visual coaching to maximize the athlete’s use of their visual system. In her research she showed that a combination of classical vision training and visual awareness coaching improved 12 of 22 hockey skills tested   

(d) Perceptual training  This is based on developing visual search strategies and effective decision-making. Abernethy 1999 showed that a novice could be trained to produce similar anticipatory skills to an expert. In the complex area of training visual perceptual skills this model of vision training provides coaches with a better understanding of the role of eye-hand coordination in sports performance. Coaches and trainers at all levels of sport need reliable information from sports vision equipment. It is essential that sports vision practitioners have access to visual-motor equipment that can quantify data and provide clinical information for interruption in a meaningful way.  

The SVT^TM consists of 2 main components:

1.       An enclosure containing a 1.25 metre by 1.25 metre meter grid of eighty lights and switches with driver interface electronics.

2.       A window based program that uses a graphical user interface to enable the user to control the grid. The unique design includes an eight-centimetre sensor pad and graphical selection of any random sequence of lights.  

Eye hand coordination as tested and trained on the SVT^TM is divided into 3 components

(a)  Proaction - mimics a closed motor skill environment. It is a movement that is initiated by the individual.

(b)  Reaction - mimics an open motor skill environment. Reaction is a movement that occurs in response to another action initiated by another person.

(c) Reactive random - similar to reaction mode however the user can select a range of reaction times. This means the software within the range specified will randomly select the duration of each light.

The scientific research has indicating that training in the reactive mode 3 times a week for a period of 5 weeks with each session lasting 30 minutes will significantly improve eye-hand coordination including a transfer effect.   Clinical tips:1. Research indicates that an athlete can stop after 5 weeks of SVT^TM training and for up to 10 weeks still maintain similar reaction times. Therefore for elite athletes the SVT^TM 5 weeks intense program should be implemented prior the start of the competitive season 2. For regularly maintenance during the athletes competitive season it is recommended that training be conducted once a week or once a fortnight 

As we continue are search to maximize athletic performance it is critical that sports vision practitioners utilize the latest technology used in sports science to assess treat and provide feedback to the athlete, coach and trainers. Successful professional teams continue to invest in sports science technology to maximize sporting performance and the SVT^TM is certainly another device that has the potential to assist athletes. The SVT^TM Can also be used in rehabilitation.